System for boarding a wheelchair on a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12478522-B2
Application number	US-202318308752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2023
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A system for boarding a wheelchair on a vehicle is provided. The system includes a pair of tracks affixed to an interior of the vehicle, a panel slidably disposed on the pair of tracks, and a scissor lift mechanism having a first end affixed to the panel. The system also includes a platform configured for receiving the wheelchair, the platform affixed to a second end of the scissor lift mechanism, a first actuator configured to move the panel along the pair of tracks, and a second actuator configured to operate the scissor lift mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for boarding a wheelchair on a vehicle, the system comprising:
a pair of tracks affixed to an interior of the vehicle; a panel slidably disposed on the pair of tracks; a scissor lift mechanism having a first end affixed to the panel; a platform configured for receiving the wheelchair, the platform affixed to a second end of the scissor lift mechanism; a first actuator configured to move the panel along the pair of tracks; and a second actuator configured to operate the scissor lift mechanism; and a controller; a first sensor configured to detect when the panel has reached a fully-extended position with respect to the tracks; a second sensor configured to detect when the platform has returned to a predetermined stow height with respect to the panel; wherein the controller is configured to enable operation of the second actuator only after the first sensor detects the panel has reached the fully extended position, and to enable operation of the first actuator to retract the panel only after the second sensor detects the platform has returned to the predetermined stow height; wherein the second actuator includes a force sensor configured to monitor the force being exerted by the actuator and to stop operation of the actuator upon reaching a maximum force limit.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes one or more wheels and wherein each of the pair of tracks includes a channel that is configured to receive the one or more wheels.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the scissor lift mechanism includes both a fixed attachment point and a slidable attachment point.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is a linear actuator.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a first end of the linear actuator is affixed to the panel and a second end of the linear actuator is affixed to a cross member of the scissor lift mechanism.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is a rotary actuator.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first actuator is affixed to a gear that is configured to rotate a rod, the rod having gears disposed on each end.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform further comprises a flap portion affixed to the platform by a hinge, the flap portion being configured to pivot about the hinge between an open position and a closed position.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the platform and/or the flap portion include one or more magnets configured to secure the flap portion in at least one of the open position or the closed position.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wire harness affixed to the panel, the wire harness configured to control the movement of wires during movement of the panel to prevent the wires from being damaged as the panel moves.

11 . A vehicle comprising,
a door; a wheelchair lift disposed in an interior of the vehicle adjacent to the door, the wheelchair lift comprising:
a pair of tracks affixed to the interior of the vehicle;
a panel slidably disposed on the pair of tracks;
a scissor lift mechanism having a first end affixed to the panel;
a platform configured for receiving a wheelchair, the platform affixed to a second end of the scissor lift mechanism;
a first actuator configured to move the panel along the pair of tracks; and
a second actuator configured to operate the scissor lift mechanism;
a controller; a first sensor configured to detect when the panel has reached a fully-extended position with respect to the tracks; a second sensor configured to detect when the platform has returned to a predetermined stow height with respect to the panel; wherein the controller is configured to enable operation of the second actuator only after the first sensor detects the panel has reached the fully extended position, and to enable operation of the first actuator to retract the panel only after the second sensor detects the platform has returned to the predetermined stow height; wherein the second actuator includes a force sensor configured to monitor the force being exerted by the actuator and to stop operation of the actuator upon reaching a maximum force limit.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the pair of tracks are oriented perpendicular to the door when the door is in a closed position.

13 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the second actuator is a linear actuator.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a first end of the linear actuator is affixed to the panel and a second end of the linear actuator is affixed to a cross member of the scissor lift mechanism.

15 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first actuator is configured to extend the panel outside of the interior of the vehicle.

16 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the panel includes one or more wheels and wherein each of the pair of tracks includes a channel that is configured to receive the one or more wheels.

17 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the platform further comprises a flap portion affixed to the platform by a hinge, the flap portion being configured to pivot about the hinge between an open position and a closed position.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the platform and the flap portion include one or more magnets configured to secure the flap portion in at least one of the open position or the closed position.

19 . The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a wire harness affixed to the panel, the wire harness configured to control the movement of wires during movement of the panel to prevent the wires from being damaged as the panel moves.

20 . A vehicle comprising:
a door; a wheelchair lift disposed in an interior of the vehicle adjacent to the door, the wheelchair lift comprising:
a pair of tracks affixed to the interior of the vehicle;
a panel slidably disposed on the pair of tracks;
a scissor lift mechanism having a first end affixed to the panel;
a platform configured for receiving a wheelchair, the platform affixed to a second end of the scissor lift mechanism;
a rotary actuator configured to move the panel along the pair of tracks;
a linear actuator configured to operate the scissor lift mechanism;
one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more of a position of the door, a relative position of the panel and the pair of tracks, and a relative position of the panel and the platform; and
a controller configured to operate the linear actuator and the rotary actuator based at least in part on a user command and data received from the one or more sensors, the controller further configured to:
enable operation of the linear actuator only after a first sensor detects the panel is fully extended with respect to the tracks;
enable operation of the rotary actuator to retract the panel only after a second sensor detects the platform is stowed with respect to the panel;
wherein the linear actuator includes a force sensor configured to monitor the force being exerted by the actuator and to stop operation of the actuator upon reaching a maximum force limit.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Lee Jaeyun
• Back Bongbum
• Lee Junetaek

Classifications

• Y10S414/134

  Handicapped person handling · CPC title

• B60P1/4471

  General means for controlling movements of the loading platform, e.g. hydraulic systems · CPC title

• B60P1/4442

  the raising device, when not in use, being stored inside the load-transporting compartment · CPC title

• B60P1/4435

  the loading platform being suspended by wires, chains or the like from horizontal rails, e.g. the rails forming part of the vehicle floor · CPC title

• A61G3/0808

  Accommodating or securing wheelchairs · CPC title